Sources say Cheney angry with Bush

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- Political sources say former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney is bitter that President George Bush wouldn't pardon Cheney aide Lewis "Scooter" Libby.

Cheney pushed Bush so hard to pardon Lewis that Bush refused to discuss the matter any further before he left office Jan. 20, The New York Daily News said in an exclusive published Tuesday. "He's furious with Bush," said a Cheney aide.

In an interview with The Weekly Standard last month, Cheney denounced Libby's conviction for perjury and obstruction of justice in the investigation of who leaked CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity to the press.

"He was the victim of a serious miscarriage of justice, and I strongly believe that he deserved a presidential pardon," Cheney said.

Bush in 2007 commuted Libby's 30-month prison sentence but left the verdict in place, which bars Libby from practicing law and from voting.

The Libby case strained the once close relationship Bush enjoyed with Cheney, said an unnamed former White House official.